A Twirling Fish
Gone fishing!
Transform a decorated strip of paper into a fish that twirls! All it takes is a couple slits to interlock it.
You’ll need:
Strips of paper Almost any paper will do, as long as its not too floppy. Plain colors are best if you plan to decorate your fish. Otherwise try wallpaper, wrapping paper, textured paper etc. The insides of some envelopes have great "fishy" patterns.
Scissors
Felt pens, Q-tips, crayons or other media to decorate a pattern of scales, a tail and an eye.
String if you’d like to make a hanging fish.
Glue or stapler to fasten the tail more securely if you wish.
Here’s how:
- Cut a sturdy strip of paper 11" x 1 ½" to start. For variation try strips larger or smaller, longer or wider. For more exotic fish, contour the long edges with zig-zaggy cuts, notches and fringes.
- Decorate by making “scales” with felt pen, crayon, Q-tip, or by stamp printing. You could cut and glue on a few shiny metallic paper scales.
- Make an eye with felt pen, or cut one out of paper and glue it on.
- Cut slits about 3" from each end, halfway up the side on one end and halfway down on the other.
- Bend and fit slits together for the tail (Staple or glue optional)
- Pinch for the nose.
Possibilities:
- Drop it or toss in the air when it’s ready to twirl!
- Hang from a string to watch it twizzle in the breeze.
- Attach a stick or a rolled paper wand to ”wave-and-twirl”.
- Tie one on as a tricycle accessory.
- Some shiny metallic paper fish will catch the light as they twirl and add to the child’s delight!
- You’ll probably end up creating a whole school of colorful fish for a mobile.
